Austin Mitchell

Austin Mitchell was re-elected MP for Great Grimsby in May 2010 with a majority of 714.

Austin Mitchell has been the Labour Member of Parliament for the fishing port of Grimsby since 1977, when he was elected after a career as a political science lecturer in New Zealand and as a broadcaster and journalist with the BBC and Yorkshire Television.

A former opposition spokesman on Trade and Industry and Opposition Whip, he has served on the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee and the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. He is currently on the Public Accounts Committee, something which he says he is "too nice" for.

He is also Senior Associate Editor of the Parliamentary weekly The House Magazine, and Chairman of the Fishing Group, All-Party Media Group, Trading Standards Group, Advertising Group and Photography Group. He was co-presenter of the Sky News political interview show Target from 1989-98

Mr Mitchell has written numerous publications mainly on the Labour Party and wider politics, while also managing to produce a prolific number of articles for various journals and newspapers. His interests include the economy, Europe (anti-EU), legal reform, consumer affairs, the media, agriculture, the fishing industry, electoral and constitutional reform, the accountancy profession and corporate governance.

He was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2001 for services to New Zealand interests in the United Kingdom.